A Brooklyn motorist pulled over on eastbound Interstate 78 in Upper Saucon Township early Wednesday was carrying 588 cartons of untaxed cigarettes from Virginia, police said.

Imad Noman Said, 28, was stopped 1:40 a.m. in a rental vehicle for a traffic violation near mile marker 62.5, state police at Fogelsville said.

Said gave permission to search the car and police found the cigarettes, Trooper Shawn P. McCormick said. He was taken into custody on charges of failing to stay in his lane and possession of untaxed cigarettes.

Said's home state of New York has a cigarette tax of $4.35 per 20-cigarette pack, and New York City imposes an addition tax of $1.50 per pack. A carton of cigarettes usually holds 10 packs.

Police said Said was trying to avoid taxes in New York or elsewhere.

He was arraigned later Wednesday by District Judge Daniel Trexler, who sent him to Lehigh County Jail under $25,000 bail.